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Prothymosin-alpha enhances HLA-DR antigen expression on monocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis
C N Baxevanis1, C Sfagos, E Anastasopoulos
1Department of Immunology, Hellenic Anticancer Institute, Athens, Greece.
Journal of Neuroimmunology
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Prothymosin-alpha (ProT alpha) increases human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) on multiple sclerosis (MS) monocytes, restoring their immune response. This finding links HLA-DR expression to cellular immune defects in MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroimmunology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by decreased class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on monocytes.
- These monocytes exhibit poor stimulatory capacity in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (autoMLR), indicating a cellular immune defect.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of prothymosin-alpha (ProT alpha) on the expression of MHC class II antigens by monocytes from MS patients.
- To determine if ProT alpha can restore the deficient autoMLR in MS.
Main Methods:
- Monocytes were isolated from MS patients and analyzed for MHC class II (HLA-DR) antigen expression.
- Monocytes were incubated with ProT alpha, and HLA-DR expression was measured using radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies.
- AutoMLR was assessed before and after ProT alpha treatment.
Main Results:
- Incubation with ProT alpha significantly increased HLA-DR antigen expression on MS monocytes (1.5- to 4-fold increase).
- The enhancement of HLA-DR expression peaked after 2 days of ProT alpha incubation.
- The increased HLA-DR expression restored the deficient autoMLR in MS patients.
Conclusions:
- Prothymosin-alpha (ProT alpha) can upregulate MHC class II antigen expression on monocytes from MS patients.
- This upregulation restores the impaired autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (autoMLR) in MS.
- This study provides the first evidence linking HLA-DR antigen expression to cellular immune defects in multiple sclerosis.